1498 - Christopher Columbus and his crew, embarked on a voyage of discovery which revealed, amongst other things, that human flesh was a gourmet food substance in the West Indies. The Spaniards were appalled, at the succulent, sizeable portions of human flesh roasting over a spit fire. They labeled these tribes ‘canibs’ and later ‘canibales’ - meaning cruel and thirsty.

1981 - A Japanese student shot and killed the object of his affection; carving away her breasts and buttocks. Much later, whilst under arrest, he admitted that ‘nothing was as delicious’ and ‘I have consumed my love forever’. He now enjoys a semi celebrity status in his home town and Epicurean cannibalism raised it’s ugly head.

2005 and closer to home - A doctor emerges from a shady clinic, clutching a fist size glass bottle, tightly. The woman awaiting him, good-naturedly covets the bottle, and securely carries it home. She rinses the contents, with running water, till they are ashen and translucent, tosses in a generous helping of garlic and turns on the boiler, on a high, blazing flame. Much later, at the dinner table, she relishes each human foetus and reflects on how robust her body would soon be.

Have human beings truly evolved or do we continue to wear our cannibalistic inclinations, like a coat that cannot be shrugged off, all that easily?